Rachael Harris, a talented actress, was born in Worthington, Ohio, where she spent most of her early life. She graduated from Worthington High School in 1986 and then attended Otterbein College, a liberal arts college located in Westerville, Ohio. Harris earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1989.
After completing her education, Harris joined the Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe. The troupe, which maintains its own school in Los Angeles, allows experienced members to train young performers. Harris has served as a teacher in the school, sharing her knowledge and skills with the next generation of comedians.
In the 1990s, Harris began making appearances in American television shows. She started with single-episode roles in science fiction series such as "seaQuest DSV" and "Star Trek: Voyager". Her role in "Star Trek" had her playing Martis, the mother of Kes, a regular character in the series. Harris also had a recurring role in the sitcom "Sister, Sister" as Simone, a senior college student attending the University of Michigan.
Throughout the 2000s, Harris continued to make guest appearances on television shows and also appeared in documentaries and advertisement campaigns. She served as a correspondent for the news satire "The Daily Show" for a single season, from 2002 to 2003. Harris was then cast as Kevyn Shecket, a member of the supporting cast in the comedy series "Fat Actress", which aired from 2005. Although the show was canceled after its first season, Harris appeared in all seven episodes.
Harris has also appeared in various theatrical films, often in minor roles. In the comedy film "The Hangover" (2009),she played Melissa, the bossy and cheating girlfriend of Dr. Stuart "Stu" Price. Harris had a recurring film role in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" film series (2010-2012),where she played Susan Heffley, the mother of the protagonist.
In the 2010s, Harris continued to appear in various film and television roles. She was cast as a main cast member in the short-lived sitcom "Surviving Jack" (2014),where she played Joanne Dunlevy, a married mother of two teenagers who decides to resume her college studies. The main plot of the sitcom revolved around Joanne's husband adjusting to life as a full-time parent.
Harris gained a main cast role in the fantasy series "Lucifer" (2016-2021),where she played Dr. Linda Martin, a professional psychotherapist who maintains a sexual relationship with her patient Lucifer Morningstar. The series follows Lucifer, a fallen angel and former ruler of Hell, as he tries to adjust to life among humans and deal with his emotional issues.
